About Lee - My Zumba Story
For years, I believed I couldn’t dance. As a child, I was told by a Ballet teacher that had two left feet—and I carried that belief with me through school dances, proms, and parties, always standing on the sidelines, convinced rhythm just wasn’t for me. “I can’t dance,” I’d say, and for the longest time, I truly believed it.
In 2004, an amazing Zumba instructor asked me why I kept telling myself that, and invited me to try a Zumba class with the promise of two songs, and if I couldn’t to it, I can run out the door. Two songs later, I was HOOKED on Zumba and took classes for 15 years.
Then my life changed in 2019, when I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. One year of radiation and chemotherapy. Not the best year of my life, for sure.
After my battle with cancer, I found myself searching for a way to reclaim my strength and joy. The chemotherapy had taken so much from me—my energy, my spirit, and even my confidence. But as I recovered, I was feeling empty inside, like I needed something to REALLY lift my spirits and claim my life back.
I went back to Zumba classes again, and, as the music began, something magical happened. The rhythm flowed through me, and I felt a spark of life I hadn’t felt in years. I laughed, I sweated, and I forgot about the scars left by illness. It was freedom.
Jumping ahead, two VERY SPECIAL people have convinced me for a very long time that I should be teaching, given my energy and passion for this dance. Months later, after training and practice, I stood before my first class, not just as an instructor, but as someone who had fought through adversity and emerged stronger.
Today, I inspire others with my love for dance. I teach them that no matter the challenges life throws at us, we can always find a rhythm, a way to move forward. The joy of dancing is contagious, and I see it in every face, every step, every smile that lights up my classes.
Keep Dancing and follow your dreams! Don’t let ANYTHING stop you!
